(edit title) Swedes feel awkward (See Video) Wall street journal reports. Options

[byke]

Recently read this Article which focused on the introduction of a new retail store outside of Stockholm.

There had been a lot of hype leading up to the opening, and with many of the natives commenting that the opening will bring Sweden inline with other big or important nations. A comparison that's often done by focusing on the value or importance of a nation by comparing it to others, and often perceived as a form of insecurity. As well as rubbing it in the noses of Nordic neighbours that haven't got such shops yet.

Personally I have never been a big fan of the glitzy Disney attitude used to convey what they see as a good user experience. But you can't deny, trying to be a sourpuss in the presence of such attitude is harder.

But while many of the locals may have a hard time adopting this type of professional attitude, could it have a knock on effect in terms of Sweden actually developing a culture of professional responsiveness in the retail industry?

Who knows, but love it or hate it ... Times are a changing

[skogsbo]

from my reading of it, the dislikes are because of the staff cheering themselves? Which to be fair is a thoroughly annoying American habit. 3 cheers for us, give yourselves a big round of applause, group hugs, high 5s... it's all very insecure and meaningless. The staff should have been polite and courteous welcoming their first customers, with polite hey, etc. or perhaps a glass of non-alcoholic fizz etc..

Praise, applause or reward should come from other people, but never self congratulations. It's nearly as bad as people who put on a false deliberate laugh at their own jokes. I don't think article has anything to do with Sweden entering changing times? As it would appear the stafff were probably told to act that way and all the Swedes who witnessed it or later saw it online disliked it?

ps. Do you spend all day specifically searching for articles that are negative towards Sweden?

[peecee_uk]

.... staff cheering themselves? Which to be fair is a thoroughly annoying American habit. 3 cheers for us, give yourselves a big round of applause, group hugs, high 5s...

It makes me shudder and cringe at the thought of such behaviour.
If I was made to do that I think I would be uncomfortable with it.

[JulieLou40]

I got to 1.53 and stopped watching. I do wish they'd welcomed the customers in with politeness and a bit of fizz, instead of all that whooping and screaming. It was just pointless and a bit embarrassing.

[olga118]

"Which to be fair is a thoroughly annoying American habit".

I lived in the USA for 50 years and I worked in retail sales for many years. What you see on that video is certainly not typical in the USA marketplace.

[Migga]

I think the reason why people react in the way they do is because of the employees behavior. It looks fake and gives of a dishonest vibe. It seems very shallow, false and not very genuine. I would also have a reaction if someone gave me a false smile and asked me how I was doing but didn`t really care to hear the answare.

[skogsbo]

"Which to be fair is a thoroughly annoying American habit". I lived in the USA for 50 years and I worked in retail sales for many years. What you see on that video ... (show full quote)

"Which to be fair is a thoroughly annoying American habit".

I lived in the USA for 50 years and I worked in retail sales for many years. What you see on that video is certainly not typical in the USA marketplace. ... (hide full quote)

apology, I probably generalised that it's 'some' American's behaviour, but it is very un-european to act in that way. Whilst us Europeans only cringe at the very thought of it, a Japanese worker would probably have a heart attack if they were expected to act like that!

[Great Scott]

It’s like the products they sell, all hyped up and compatible with nothing. Overpriced junk, it’s sad to see the “I must have one, follow the sheep cult” being conned out of their money.

[skogsbo]

I think it's more like a last ditched attempt to revive a slowly declining company. They have nothing new or revolutionary, their market share is slowly shrinking and they keep bringing out the reinvented wheel, isn't it up to markV now.

[byke]

Having thought and read the other comments, I have come to my own conclusion that the reason for why this may have gone so horribly wrong was because it was a Swedish interpretation of America and its persona. Mixed in with a combination of that Heja Sverige mentality.

A combination that really just didn't work well together.

[skogsbo]

Having thought and read the other comments, I have come to my own conclusion that the reason for why this may have gone so horribly wrong was because it was a Swedish interpre ... (show full quote)

Having thought and read the other comments, I have come to my own conclusion that the reason for why this may have gone so horribly wrong was because it was a Swedish interpretation of America and its persona. ... (hide full quote)

That or all the staff were forced to attend an Apple funded or staffed team building event prior to the launch, where they were told how to act, with several practice sessions, with a voice coach to ensure that they came across as false as possible!

[byke]

Having visited stores in England, Germany, France and Holland - I can tell you that I have never seen anything like shown in the video before.

[Yorkshireman]

Dont' have any issue with the way they opened the store.

It would have been part of the Project Plan.
Approved by the Steering Group.
And got them additional free publicity with regards the store opening.

All-in-all, a successful opening!

[Emerentia]

But while many of the locals may have a hard time adopting this type of professional attitude, could it have a knock on effect in terms of Sweden actually developing a culture ... (show full quote)

But while many of the locals may have a hard time adopting this type of professional attitude, could it have a knock on effect in terms of Sweden actually developing a culture of professional responsiveness in the retail industry? ... (hide full quote)

I don't find this professional at all, it was just very, very weird. I think they only reason anyone even went in to that store at all, was that they was giving someting away for free (iphones?). I think that's cultlike behavior and rather scary. I really feel sorry for the people working in that store, being made to act like that, making fools out of themself, the store and the brand.

[Yorkshireman]

Having thought and read the other comments, I have come to my own conclusion that the reason for why this may have gone so horribly wrong was because it was a Swedish interpre ... (show full quote)

Having thought and read the other comments, I have come to my own conclusion that the reason for why this may have gone so horribly wrong was because it was a Swedish interpretation of America and its persona. Mixed in with a combination of that Heja Sverige mentality. ... (hide full quote)

It is obviously Apples policy to open their stores in this kind of manner, with a little difference between stores. The Swedish probably had only a little input in the process.

London:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNjsMFNxgc

Australia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrIiGirYjR0

China:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCod2HxWDSI

...Just to highlight a few.